Long load-narrow aisle truck

ABSTRACT

A lift truck having a pivotable mast and fork assembly for lifting and stacking loads upon an extensible load carrying system on the side of the vehicle.

[451 Oct. 22, 1974 United States Patent [191 Shaffer [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LONG LOAD-NARROW AISLE TRUCK Inventor: Walter M. Shaffer, Chesterland,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Towmotor Corporation, Cleveland,

Ohio

[22] Filed: June 24, 1970 Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. (Oresky Attorney, Agent, or FirmPhillips, Moore, Weissenberger, Lempio & Strabala m a D n .m t a .m M. p A we 3 e in CI: u m. D. A 1 1 2 t [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 759,323, Sept. 12, 1968,

abandoned.

ABSTRACT A lift truck having a U.S. Cl-..."--......t................. G, pivotable mast and fork assembly Int. Cl--................................-'........... for and stacking loads upon an extensible load of Search G, carrying System on the side of the vehicle 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures AIENIED "372N974 SNEHJBF 5 INVENTOR WALTER M. SHAFFER' 1 LONG LOAD-NARROW AISLE TRUCK This is a streamlined continuation of my earlier application Ser. No. 759,323, filed Sept. 12, 1968, and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a fork lift truck and more particularly to a power operated lift truck which is adapted to carry long loads, such as lumber, pipes, etc., parallel to its direction of travel in narrow aisles.

Although many lift trucks have been designed which utilize a pivotable fork and/or mast assembly and many have been designed which carry long loads at the side of the vehicle for use in narrow aisles, those few designs which feature a combination of these elements have proven to be rather complex and expensive to manufacture and repair, while rarely providing all of the advantages of either of these features.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a machine which will handle long loads in narrow aisles.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a machine which has all the advantages found in machines having pivotal forks and machines having side load carrying systems.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a machine which is both non-complex and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a machine which requires a minimal modification of machines which are presently available.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and claims as illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best modes contemplated for applying those principles. It is recognized that other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and purview of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a lift truck utilizing the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of the extensible side load carrying system;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the mast and fork assembly in a pivoted position and the side load carrying means system in an extended position;

FIG. 4 is a partial rear view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, of a modification of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a partial rear view of the alternate embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 a lift truck 11 embodying the present invention and having essentially standard components including a body section 13, suitable counter-weights on the body section, a rear transverse steerable axle 15, to which the dirigible wheels 17 and 19 are attached, operators seat 21, and a vertical spindle (not shown), just behind the mast, about which the pivoting front end power assembly rotates.

In the normal position for driving the vehicle, power wheels 23 and 25 are maintained in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, as shown for wheel 23 in FIG. 1.

Lifting forks 27 and 29 are mounted on a tiltable mast 31 and may be raised or lowered relative to the mast in a well known manner. Additionally, fork 27 may be raised or lowered relative to fork 29 by means of an operator actuated hydraulic system 33, a linkage 35 between the hydraulic system and the fork, and the slidable cooperation with the upper leg of the fork and a channel 37 mounted on the lifting fork support system.

An exemplary disclosure of a lift truck utilizing the vertical spindle and tiltable mast assemblies referred to above has been illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,986,295, issued May 30, 1961, and assigned to the assignee hereof.

An exemplary disclosure of a lift truck utilizing the vertical spindle and tiltable mast assemblies referred to above has been illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,879, issued Aug. 15, 1967, and assigned to the assignee hereof.

The side load carrying structure basically comprises telescoping channels 39 and 41. The stationary channels 39, which are fixed at the rear axle l5 carry a fixed load support 43 and the movable channels 41 carry an articulated load support 45. The movable channels may be extended toward the front of the truck by means of a hydraulic system comprising a cylinder 47 fixedly mounted on the rear axle as at 49 (FIG. 4) and a piston rod 51 which is attached to the articulated support 45. Rod 51 is pivotally attached to an arm 53 which is pivotally mounted at 55 to a stationary or non-movable portion 57 of support 45. The other end of pivot arm 53 is pivotally connected to a bellcrank type mechanism 59, which in turn, is fixed to the articulated portion 61 of load support 45. As fluid enters cylinder 47, and rod 51 is extended therefrom, support 45 is moved to the left as shown in FIG. 2 and the pivot arm and associated linkage serve to rotate the articulated portion of the support to the relative position shown in phantom in that figure.

As cross-tie member 63, which is mounted on the rear end of channels 41, abuts stop members 65 mounted on the fixed channels 39, the movement of the load support 45 to the left is halted.

OPERATION The truck as shown in FIG. 1 is driven down an aisle until it is intermediate the length of the long load which is to be transported. The mast of the truck is then pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 3 and the loading forks are inserted under the load by moving the vehicle in a well-known manner, elevating the forks and withdrawing the load from the stack. A pictoral illustration of the reverse of this operation, i.e., an insertion of a load into a storage area, can be found in FIGS. 11-14 of the above cited U.S. Pat. No. 2,986,295. The loading forks are then lowered so that the load rests upon forks 27, 29, and fixed support 43. Cylinder 33 is then filled with hydraulic fluid, causing fork 27 to be lowered below the work to the position shown in FIG. 3, thus leaving the work supported by fork 29 and support 43. When this has been accomplished, the operator causes cylinder 47 to be filled with hydraulic fluid causing piston rod 51 to extend from the cylinder, moving support 45 toward the forward part of the vehicle and actuating linkage 53 and 59 so as to extend the articulated portion 61 of support 45. When this has been completed, the various load support structures have assumed the relative positions shown in FIG. 3. At this time the operator lowers fork 29 in the well known manner to a level equal to that of fork 27 and returns the mast assembly 31 to the position shown in FIG. 1, leaving the load on supports 45 and 43. The vehicle may then be driven to a new destination and the load removed by reversing the operation.

ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT In the modification shown in FIGS. and 6, where possible, those parts of the device which are structurally different from those in the embodiment previously discussed will be labeled with numbers similar to those of the original embodiment, but in the 100 series. It is to be borne in mind that combinations of various portions of the structure of the two illustrated embodiments may be interchanged as desired.

As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle, mast assembly, and drive system are identical to those of the original embodiment, but forks 129 and 127 may not be moved relative to one another. A rear load support 143 is fixedly mounted on or near the rear axle l5 and a forward load support 145 is pivotally mounted on the body section 13 of the vehicle so as to be rotatable about a pivot pin 155. The support 145 may be pivoted in any desired manner, e.g., manually or mechanically. Thus, when no load is being carried by the vehicle, support 145 may be rotated to a position adjacent the vehicle so as to obviate the possibility of its being a hazard to personnel or equipment. I

Near the rear of the vehicle, a hold-down pad 171 on a control arm 173 is utilized to exert pressure against the top of a load so as to assist in holding it on support 143. The pad is pivotally mounted on arm 173, as at 175, and arm 173 is pivotally mounted on the vehicle 13 as at 177. The arm and pad may be moved relative to the support 143, to positions such as shown in phantom in FIG. 6, by a hydraulic system 179 mounted between the arm at 181 and the vehicle at 183 so that when hydraulic fluid enters the cylinder 185 at one end, a piston rod 187 is extended therefrom, thereby raising arm 173; when fluid enters the opposite end of the cylinder, the arm is lowered and hold-down pad 171 clamps the load to support 143.

When the vehicle is placed in position and the load is taken by forks 127 and 129, the forks are then brought into the same horizontal plane as supports 143 and 145. Fluid then enters cylinder 185 to draw the control arm and pad into a workholding position such as shown in FIG. 6 and the forks may then be lowered in a conventional manner. The mast assembly is then rotated to the position as shown in FIG. 1 and the vehicle is ready to deliver the load to the desired location.

The invention thus disclosed provides a true advancement in the art of load carrying vehicles due to the simplicity of design with the resultant economical manufacture and maintenance.

While the illustration and description have shown preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification. For example, if desired, outriggers could be used with the vehicle, the hold down pad 171 could be utilized with the side load supporting means of the embodiment of FIG. 1, or the load could be carried on the other side of the vehicle. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the precise details set forth above, but includes such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lift truck having a body and a mast assembly supporting at least a pair of lifting forks for engaging a load, means pivotally mounting said mast for movement relative to said body, a first load support member fixed on said body adjacent one end thereof for supporting a portion of a load substantially longitudinally parallel to said body, a second load support member including means movably mounting said second load support member adjacent a second end of said body for supporting another portion of said load, said mounting means moving said second load support member from said position adjacent said second end to a second position between said pair of lifting forks when said mast is moved to the same side as saidsupport members, and means for transferring the load from said forks to said second load support member.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for transferring the load from said forks to said second support member comprise means for adjusting one of said forks relative to another of said forks.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means movably mounting said second load support member comprises hydraulic cylinder connected between said first and second load support members.

4. The invention of claim 1 further including means mounted on said body wherein at least a part of said second load support member is pivotable from a first position adjacent said body to a second position extending outwardly therefrom.

5. In a lift truck having a body and a mast assembly supporting at least a pair of lifting forks for engaging a load, means pivotally mounting said mast for movement relative to said body, a first load support member fixed on said body adjacent one end thereof for supporting a portion of a load substantially longitudinally parallel to said body, a second load support member including means movably mounting said second load support member adjacent a second end of said body for supporting another portion of said load, means mounted on said body wherein said second load support is pivotable from a first position adjacent said body to a second position extending outwardly therefrom and adjacent to one of said forks when said mast is pivoted relative to said body, means thereon for moving said second load support from a position intermediate said first load support and one of said load forks to a position intermediate said load forks and means for transferring the load from said forks to said second load support.

6. In a lift truck having a body including a front end,

a rear end,

an axis passing through said front and rear ends,

means movably mounting a mast assembly for movement with respect to said front end,

said mast assembly having lifting means including at least a pair of forks for mounting the same for movement thereon to engage and disengage loads,

a first load support means on said body and including at least one member mounted for movement with respect thereto,

means for moving said member from an initial position adjacent the body and lying outside of said pair of forks wherein said member in said secondary position cooperates with said lifting means to engage a portion of the load for supporting the same thereon and on said remaining portion of said first load support means, and means for transferring the load from said forks to said member.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means movably mounting said mast for movement with respect to said front end comprises pivot means wherein said mast assembly is pivotable with respect to said body.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means for transferring the load from said forks comprises means for adjusting one of said forks relative to another of said forks.

9. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means moving said member from an initial position adjacent the body to a secondary position substantially perpendicular to said axis and between said pair of forks comprise hydraulic cylinder means for moving said member from said initial to said secondary position and linkage means for moving said member from said position adjacent the body to said position perpendicular to said axis.

10. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means movably mounting said mast with respect to said front end comprise pivot means wherein said mast assembly is pivotable from a first position in which the lifting forks are parallel to said axis to a second position in which said lifting forks are perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. 

1. In a lift truck having a body and a mast assembly supporting at least a pair of lifting forks for engaging a load, means pivotally mounting said mast for movement relative to said body, a first load support member fixed on said body adjacent one end thereof for supporting a portion of a load substantially longitudinally parallel to said body, a second load support member including means movably mounting said second load support member adjacent a second end of said body for supporting another portion of said load, said mounting means moving said second load support member from said position adjacent said second end to a second position between said pair of lifting forks when said mast is moved to the same side as said support members, and means for transferring the load from said forks to said second load support member.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for transferring the load from said forks to said second support member comprise meaNs for adjusting one of said forks relative to another of said forks.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means movably mounting said second load support member comprises hydraulic cylinder connected between said first and second load support members.
 4. The invention of claim 1 further including means mounted on said body wherein at least a part of said second load support member is pivotable from a first position adjacent said body to a second position extending outwardly therefrom.
 5. In a lift truck having a body and a mast assembly supporting at least a pair of lifting forks for engaging a load, means pivotally mounting said mast for movement relative to said body, a first load support member fixed on said body adjacent one end thereof for supporting a portion of a load substantially longitudinally parallel to said body, a second load support member including means movably mounting said second load support member adjacent a second end of said body for supporting another portion of said load, means mounted on said body wherein said second load support is pivotable from a first position adjacent said body to a second position extending outwardly therefrom and adjacent to one of said forks when said mast is pivoted relative to said body, means thereon for moving said second load support from a position intermediate said first load support and one of said load forks to a position intermediate said load forks and means for transferring the load from said forks to said second load support.
 6. In a lift truck having a body including a front end, a rear end, an axis passing through said front and rear ends, means movably mounting a mast assembly for movement with respect to said front end, said mast assembly having lifting means including at least a pair of forks for mounting the same for movement thereon to engage and disengage loads, a first load support means on said body and including at least one member mounted for movement with respect thereto, means for moving said member from an initial position adjacent the body and lying outside of said pair of forks wherein said member in said secondary position cooperates with said lifting means to engage a portion of the load for supporting the same thereon and on said remaining portion of said first load support means, and means for transferring the load from said forks to said member.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means movably mounting said mast for movement with respect to said front end comprises pivot means wherein said mast assembly is pivotable with respect to said body.
 8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means for transferring the load from said forks comprises means for adjusting one of said forks relative to another of said forks.
 9. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means moving said member from an initial position adjacent the body to a secondary position substantially perpendicular to said axis and between said pair of forks comprise hydraulic cylinder means for moving said member from said initial to said secondary position and linkage means for moving said member from said position adjacent the body to said position perpendicular to said axis.
 10. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means movably mounting said mast with respect to said front end comprise pivot means wherein said mast assembly is pivotable from a first position in which the lifting forks are parallel to said axis to a second position in which said lifting forks are perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. 